4.
~ "Oh! She's simply gorgeous!" The tattooed 40's pin up girl squealed. Ariadne was showing off her new daughter and delighting in all the praise as the staff fawned and admired the sleeping mass of pink that had just woken from her nap.
Seth was standing by her and smiling.
"She's really beautiful, Ari." He said softly.
"Thank you, Seth." She whispered back. "I know I should have told you I was pregnant before you hired me."
"It's not a big deal. People have babies." He shrugged as the tattooed girl was having her picture taken with Drew. Another hippie girl was snapping pictures with her iPhone. The tattooed girl looking like she was posing for the latest copy of "Inked Mommy". Ariadne laughed at the thought.
"How is Darcy?" Seth asked.
"Much better." Ariadne said as they wandered around the little graphic design office. She did miss her old job. It was fun to work here.
"The bone marrow is taking?" He asked as they were moving to a more private part of the office.
"It looks that way. She may have to stay at the hospital for another month, but I think she'll be alright." Ariadne sighed as an older co-worker took Drew and started to sing to the baby a soulful rendition of Imagine.
"That's good to know. We've really been missing you here." Seth said casually.
"Really?" She asked.
"Of course." Seth said shyly.
"Do you miss me?" She asked boldly. She suddenly felt like she was in high school.
"Of course. I can't find anyone who gets the city you made. We've been making improvements on the basic layout you made, but we need you to finish." Seth told her earnestly.
"Seth... I just had a baby." She said looking over at Drew.
"So? Bring the baby here." He told her. "She needs feeding every 2 hours anyway. It will be easier on both of you if she's here."
"How do you know so much about babies?" She asked.
"I'm the only boy of five older sisters, and the proud uncle to ten nieces and nephews. At least, I think it's ten. I'll have to call mom for the latest figure."
"Seth, a baby in the office is very unconventional." She said.
Seth rolled his eyes and looked at his employees. They were a mash up of diversity and strangeness. Some looking like they belonged on a commune, others like they had escaped from a freak show.
"I'm not too worried about what's conventional." Seth laughed.
Ariadne pretended to think it over.
"You're not going to make me beg, are you?" He asked.
Ariadne smiled back at him.
"Alright. I'll come back." She said.
~ Arthur wasn't sure what to do with himself for the rest of the day. He went to the hospital and saw Darcy. The little girl engrossed in a sculpting class. She was happy to see him, but busy with the new friends she had made in the children's cancer ward.
"Papa, I want to go back to dancing class as soon as I'm better." She told him. The Point Man smiling at her as she made a rabbit out of clay.
~ Corrine had left a note saying she was in class and would pick the boys up after school.
The Point Man pushed aside his worries over Corrine. It was a problem that would have to be addressed soon. He didn't like the fact a woman he was attracted to was living in the same house as his wife and children. He never had this problem with Edwina, Sadie or Mrs. Mills.
He made a mental note to call Edwina Sharp. She had moved out of their home after the merger and still acted as his secretary.
"Edwina?" Arthur asked as he fixed himself a light lunch.
"Oh? Yes, Arthur." Came the snuffled voice of Edwina.
"I was wondering if you could find a new nanny for us. Mrs. Mills is leaving us." The Point Man said.
"Ari told me you have a nanny. A teacher form Daniel's school." Edwina told him. Arthur silently cursed Ariadne's frustrating habit of always keeping her friends in the loop. Arthur never let Eames or Cobb know every detail of his life.
"We did, but I need to interview others." Arthur told her in a deep and formal voice. "Can you just send me resumes?"
"Well, Arthur, that won't be easy. Your situation-" Edwina started to say.
"Thank you, Edwina." Arthur said cutting her off at the door bell buzzed.
~ In a small cafe, Edwina Sharp looked stupidly at her cell phone.
"Your boss?" A tall gawky young man said looking at her worriedly. He pushed his horn rimmed glasses up over his nose. His hand curled around the red bull can he was always drinking.
"He wants a new nanny." Edwina said.
"Well. That only means one thing." Specks said.
"What?" Edwina asked worriedly.
"He's worried the new nanny is too sexy." Specks told her. He smoothed over his vintage batman T-shirt.
"Oh Stephen!" Edwina told him with a playful slap. The tiny woman delighted to have a boyfriend who seemed to like her so much.
Specks smiled back at her.
"Are we still going to the movie?" He asked as they stood to leave.
"Yes, I can't believe you want to see Barbarella." Edwina teased as the lanky young man took her hand to cross the street.
~ Arthur ran to the door. He didn't even stop to look out the peep hole to see who it was. Ariadne had almost everything delivered and it was most likely the doorman bringing another package.
"I'm coming!" Arthur shouted at the door as it buzzed angrily again.
An older man stood at the door. He was tall and lean and his fine silver hair was elegantly combed back. He wore black rimmed glasses that were popular in the 50's and were now making a comeback. He certainly wasn't the doorman or any delivery person.
"Can I help you?" Arthur asked. He looked over the man in the dark tweed jacket and slacks. His style of dress was not overly done. His clothing indicating he wasn't too rich, but cared enough about appearances to wear something more formal.
"My God." The elegant gentleman said. "You're Arthur. You're him." He breathed as his hand went to his mouth and tried to hide a smile. His eyes moving over the Point Man in happy disbelief.
Arthur didn't understand.
"I'm Arthur. Can I help you?" The Point Man tried to shake an uneasy feeling in his gut.
"I'm Albert Castus." The gentleman said.
I always pictured Anthony Head, AKA Giles from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" as Arthur's father, Albert Castus. When I found out he played King Arthur's father in "Merlin", it sealed the deal!
And yes, Specks from "Hostage" is now dating Edwina.
